A devastating earthquake in Tibet’s remote Dingri County killed at least 53 people and caused widespread destruction on Tuesday, Chinese state media reported. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and parts of India.
Videos shared by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed collapsed buildings with walls torn apart and rubble scattered across the area. The earthquake, reported at a magnitude of 6.8 by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, struck near the Nepal border at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT).
According to Xinhua News Agency, citing regional disaster relief officials, “Thirty-two people have been confirmed dead, and 38 others injured.” Many buildings near the epicenter in Dingri County, part of the Xigaze region in Tibet, were reported to have collapsed.
Local authorities are working to assess the full impact of the disaster, Xinhua added. The region is facing harsh weather conditions, with temperatures in Dingri expected to drop from -8°C (17.6°F) to -18°C overnight, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
High-Altitude Region Impacted
Dingri County, located in Tibet near Mount Everest, is home to approximately 62,000 people. Earthquakes are common in this seismically active region, but Tuesday’s tremor was the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years, the CENC noted.
Tremors Felt in Nepal and India
The earthquake’s impact extended beyond China. In Nepal, areas near Everest, including Lobuche and Namche, experienced strong tremors. “It shook quite strongly here; everyone is awake,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, a government official in Nepal’s Namche region. However, no casualties or damages were reported, according to Nepali authorities.
Some mild tremors were also felt in Bihar state, India, but no injuries were reported.
History of Devastating Earthquakes
The region’s tectonic activity often results in severe quakes. Nepal, situated on a major geological faultline where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide, has experienced devastating quakes in the past. In 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 22,000 in Nepal.
China has also faced significant earthquakes in recent years. In December 2023, a 6.9-magnitude quake in Gansu province killed 148 people and displaced thousands, while a 7.0-magnitude earthquake along the China-Kyrgyzstan border in January 2024 caused several casualties.
As relief efforts begin in Tibet, the subzero temperatures present additional challenges for those affected by this latest disaster.
